OAFP President Issues Message to OAFP Members

Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) President Teresa W. Zryd, MD, MSPH, issued to following message to OAFP members on September 10:

Dear Colleagues,

You are AWESOME! As we head into a new phase of the pandemic, with shorter days and colder temperatures signaling the onset of cold, flu, and COVID season, I want to thank you. You are doing your best to use medical evidence and research to keep your patients and communities healthy during a pandemic – even as seas of misinformation swirl around you. Despite the vocal noise from the minority, remember that most value your knowledge, experience and expertise. You continue to do right even when the going is tough and the work sometimes feels thankless, or worse.

I am reaching out to offer encouragement, support and resources as many of us are experiencing a new phenomenon: compassion fatigue. After 18 months of pandemic life, each of us is weary of the highly politicized conversations about masking, vaccines, variants, and surges. And now, students and educators are back in school, with varying masking and vaccination requirements in place—all of which seem to be controversial, for one reason or another.

Even worse, those of us who serve as local public health officials are exhausted by the constant, ongoing need to defend our choices against the personal attacks of local leaders, neighbors, and even our own friends and members.

Reliable, Consistent, Empathetic Education
To us, it seems simple. Wear your mask. Keep your distance. Get the vaccine. But for many of our patients, it’s not that straightforward. If we are to protect our populations, we must continue to educate others about what it takes to stay safe, even when our message seems to be falling on deaf ears.

Effective communication – conveying reliable, consistent information with empathy and thoughtfulness – can help community members receive your information in ways that are far more positive. This will ultimately add to individual and community well-being and ensure the effectiveness of your work.

• • COVID-19: Clinical Resources & Patient Education
  • Education Materials on the Vaccine.

• • Monitor your well-being.Compassion fatigue causes emotional and physical symptoms, ranging from irritability and anxiety to insomnia, weight fluctuations, and even substance abuse. If you’re beginning to observe some of these challenges in your own life, please consider asking for help.
  • Make a plan and ask for what you need. Share your struggle with a close friend, colleague, or therapist. Write down some self-care strategies to soothe your nerves when they’re at their most frazzled. This seems obvious, but most of us tend to forget these critical steps when we’ve hit our wall.
  • Focus on what you can control.Sometimes we need to offer our compassion to someone who can receive it willingly, without fear or judgment. Whether it’s a local charity or an act of kindness for a neighbor, this counterintuitive action step can help you fill your own cup when needed.

You can also obtain valuable resources to help you assess, advance, and prioritize your own well-being by checking out OAFP’s Wellness Week series and the AAFP’s Physician Health First toolkit.

Today, the take-home point from me is you are doing a terrific job. You are making the best decisions you can for your patients and your community, using the current information you have at your disposal. You are encouraging well-being even when people are trying to work against you.

Is it perfect? Of course not. But in the midst of a pandemic, politics, and public health, few things are going to be. Know that your Academy is cheering you on and ready to provide you with the resources and support you need. Call on us anytime.

Sincerely,
Teresa W. Zryd, MD, MSPH
President, Ohio Academy of Family Physicians